barnes



@einen gisten' strnt @frn J. J. BARNES, OF MONTIGELALO, INDIANA.

Letters Patent lire. 74,191, detect Fcruary .11. 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN FINGER-BARS IOR HARVESTERS.

TO ALI. WI-IOM IT MAY CONCERN:

De it known that I, J. J. BARNES, of Monticello, in the county of White, and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Finger-Bar et' Mowers and Reapers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, and letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of' this specification, in which-.,-

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my cutter-bar.

Figure 2 is a view of the under side of the cutter-bar, showingthe friction-rollers.

My improvement consists in the employment of a series of loose friction-rollers upon the under side of the finger-bar, having for their axis a rod longitudinal therewith, and so arranged as 'to alternate with the cutterguards, which serve as bearings Afor the rod.

As represented in the dra-wings, A is the finger-bar, (shown inverted in iig. 2,) the numeral `1 indicating the fingers or guards, and 2 the rollers, each occupying one of the spaces between the guards; '3, the sickle, and 4 the axial rod upon which the rollers are hung'. This rod extends from end. to end of the finger-bar, and, to insure a firm support for the rollers. holes are provided in the guards throughwhich the rod passes, thus giving it a hearing between each roller.

The' object of this invention is to enable the common caster-wheels or rollers'for supporting the fingci-bar at each end, to be dispensed with on mowers, when cutting close to the ground, and\also to reduce the sidedraught, by lessening tbe resistance on thenger-bar, when any'part thereof comes in contact with the ground, which often occurs lwhercvthe surface is uneven. And when caster-wheels are used, as in cutting high, my series of rollers is often of much importance, in preventing the finger-bar from riding or tearing u`p the surface ofthe ground, when the wheels run in a. dead furrow or other depression of the ground.

My improvement is especially useful when applied to the single drive-wheel machine, in obviating the sidedraught consequent on thc linger-bar having to sustain its own weight, and frequently a portion of that of the machine.

The rollers are preferably made ot' suitably hard wood, and of a diameter' that will not elevate tl1cfingerbar too high for cutting. The har is made concave to the rollers in cross-section, which shape adapts it to receive them without elevating the sickle too much, and also adds to its stiffness. 'lhe lingers are made to pro` ject below the bersuiiciently to receive the rod through them, and also to separate the rollers, whieh, from being loose on their axes, act independent of one another, and with the least friction, giving eilicicnt support to the bar at any portion et' it which may chance to come in contact with the ground. l i

This method of constructing the cutter-bar secures greater strength with less material, adding the advantage of lightness te that ofreduced friction. 'lhe bar being concave in cross-section, and the rod -i extending from end to end, and secured in cach guard 1, the effect issimilar to that ofthe chord-timber and braces of an arch. I am aware that wheels have been used on one or both ends of the linger-bar, and that one continuous roller,

vhaving journalsnt cach end of the bar, has been employed, and these I do not claim; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 'lhe series of loose fri0ti0n-rollers, 2, in combination with the guards 1, rod 4, and finger-bar A., arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth. J J BARNES Witnesses:

GEO. L. CnArIN, A. HAYWABD. 

